Eleanor Mackenzie’s path into the fitness world began during the lockdown when she was 21. She started sharing home workout videos online, creating a space where she and her followers could discuss fitness and health. With a background in Psychology and a master’s in Health Psychology, along with a personal training qualification, Eleanor understands the importance of holistic health and the connection between physical and mental well-being. Her approach is not just about physical transformation but about nurturing the mind and soul as well.
Discipline, for Eleanor, is more than just motivation; it’s about honoring commitments to oneself, even when motivation wanes. She believes that discipline is empowering because it means you’re in control. It’s about pushing through tough times to reach long-term goals. Eleanor emphasizes that discipline is a form of self-love, a way to unlock your full potential and achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself. She acknowledges that there will be days when motivation is low, but it’s the commitment to push through these days that leads to real progress.
Eleanor has developed specific rituals and habits that contribute to her overall well-being and discipline. She starts her day with a to-do list, writing down everything to clear her thoughts and then reorganizing the list into priorities. She uses the MoSCoW framework to categorize tasks: what must be done today, what should be done, what could be done, and what probably won’t be done. This helps her allocate time based on priority and timeblock her day. She also emphasizes the importance of being realistic about what can be accomplished in a day to avoid setting oneself up for failure.
Sometimes, despite meticulous planning, focus can still be elusive. Eleanor advises not to be too hard on oneself in these situations. She believes that a day isn’t a write-off just because the morning wasn’t productive. She suggests various strategies to reset, such as taking a cold shower, going for a walk, stretching, or reading a chapter of a book. These activities help switch off for a minute and reset for the next part of the day. On particularly difficult, low-motivation days, she uses the Women’s Best Energy & Focus supplement to help regain focus.
Through her fitness journey, Eleanor has learned valuable lessons about discipline that she applies to other aspects of her life. One significant lesson is to ditch the all-or-nothing mindset. She explains that this perfectionist mindset, where everything is seen as black and white, success or failure, is unhealthy. Initially, if she missed a workout or ate ‘unhealthily,’ she would consider the whole week a failure. Over time, and through her education and experience, she realized that life is about balance. She now follows the 80/20 rule, accepting that some weeks may look more like 60/40 or even 30/70, and that’s okay. This perspective has helped her develop a healthier relationship with exercise and food.
Eleanor encourages those struggling to embrace exercise to try different activities until they find what brings them joy. She emphasizes that exercise isn’t limited to the gym; it can be swimming, dancing, or even cleaning your apartment. The key is to listen to your body and not conform to societal norms about what a healthy lifestyle should look like. She believes that finding an enjoyable and realistic fitness routine is crucial for long-term adherence. If the routine isn’t enjoyable, it’s unlikely to be sustainable. She advises scheduling a manageable number of workouts per week to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Eleanor’s approach to fitness and health is holistic, considering physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual health. She offers online coaching through her platform, Coaching With Eleanor, where she supports women in achieving their goals through a balanced, sustainable approach. Her coaching includes personalized workout and nutrition plans, habit tracking, affirmations, and tailored resources. She aims to help women elevate their health and life through a holistic and balanced approach. Her journey from disliking sports to becoming a holistic health coach is a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery and balance.
In her coaching, Eleanor emphasizes the importance of setting realistic goals and being kind to oneself. She believes that progress, no matter how small, is still progress. She encourages her clients to focus on what their bodies can do and achieve rather than how they look. This mindset shift helps build self-confidence and a healthier relationship with one’s body. She also highlights the importance of rest and listening to one’s body, especially in a culture that often glorifies constant hustle.
For those looking to establish discipline in their fitness routine, Eleanor advises being kind to oneself and ensuring the routine is both enjoyable and realistic. She suggests trying various types of exercise to find what works best for you and not overloading your schedule with too many workouts. It’s better to plan for a manageable number of sessions and potentially do more than to plan for too many and fall short. She also emphasizes that your routine should fit your schedule and not be based on someone else’s. This personalized approach helps create a routine that is sustainable and enjoyable.
Eleanor Mackenzie’s journey and coaching philosophy offer valuable insights into the importance of discipline, balance, and self-compassion in achieving holistic health. Her emphasis on listening to one’s body, setting realistic goals, and finding joy in movement provides a refreshing perspective in the fitness world. By focusing on what the body can do and embracing a balanced approach, she empowers individuals to pursue a healthier and happier life. Her story serves as an inspiration for those seeking to transform their relationship with fitness and well-being.
